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The big Comparison day in the Watagans,
CRF 450x 2007
KTM 450exc 2008
V
Bikes tested Honda 07 CRF 450 and KTM 08 450 EXC
The kato as an after market muffler fitted and don’t much else, thanks to Moto for the extanded ride time, was interesting to ride the CRF and then the EXC and get back on the CRF.
I adjusted the ride height and sag on the CRF before I chucked it on the trailer. First thing I couldn’t help but notice is the ease of starting using the magic button, quick run down the dirt road and of onto the single trail, the first down hill, rocky, ruts and nice wash outs. Quickly the lighter weight of the bike showed itself, jumping ruts and steering the bike using the pegs is so much easier but I found the bike nowhere near as stable, I seemed to bounce from rock to tree root, it’s hard to explain. The throttle was very sensitive and when I tried to ride a gear higher the chain would rattle and it had no power to wheel stand over things.
As the day went along I started to work out how to ride it faster but I was still having the odd moment here and there that I don’t have on the BRP.
With the XR when you hit something it is very stable, I was finding I was less worn out physically on the 450 but more mentally taxed.
I swapped with Moto, first thing I noticed about the Kato was how much better the brakes worked then on the CRF, they where stronger and had more feel. The front end on the CRF had more feel and steered better than the Kato and seemed much more progressive through the stroke of the suspension.
The rear end of the Kato seemed better then the CRF, better in the smaller stuff yet soaked the big hits up without bottoming.
Engine wise the Kato had a stronger bottom end and mid range yet the top end seemed no stronger than the CRF which was the same. After talking with Moto it was decided it could be the after market pipe that was helping the Kato’s bottom end, Moto also said the Kato was going in to be rejetted so he expected more from it in the future.
I liked the Honda’s ride position more than the KTM‘s and the gearbox on the Honda also seemed a more direct shift and sweeter to use. Just on the KTM’s front end, Moto has been unable to remove the air bleed screws which would no doubt be helping cause the harsh action through the stroke.Back on the Honda I found I would tackle the nasty little tracks / hills / rock step ups without thinking about it much more than if I was on the 650, I was trying to work out was it because of the lower seat height (feet touch the ground much better ha ha) was it because it was lighter and I could pick it up easier if needed (I didn’t try the pick it up test all day thank God) or because if stalled I could push the button.
The chain slap really gave me the s*#ts all day, I checked the chain when I got home and the adjustment was as per the manual.
Thanks again to Grant aka Chopper for the CRF and Moto aka call me Dave for the Kato
Also Champo offered me a ride on the TM300 which seems a sweet ride and I will take him up on it next ride, cheers mate
AnonymousI second TB’s opinion above mostly. I found the Honda suspension to be better overall and I rode it through the whoops on the way back quicker than I did my own bike. I did like the Honda gearbox, it was very schmick. I did find the brakes lacking some feel and power but I think that could be sorted with a better pad/disc combo.
The bars were also a little short after coming off the KTM, again this is easily changed and I think would be required for a taller rider.
I think stock for stock the KTM still has a slightly more response at the bottom end. This was further improved however, with my aftermarket pipe.
Overall, I liked the ride of the Honda, and after I got used to the brakes I was moving along quite nicely on it. With all the extra gear you get with the new Honda’s like steering dampers etc, it would be a hard bike to look past for anyone after a 450.
Cheers to chopper for letting me have a ride
Anonymous
Anonymousmicknmeld wrote:
Quote:Portly??? That is very PC of you Ollie…LMFAOadj., -li·er, -li·est.
Comfortably stout; corpulent. See synonyms at fat.
Archaic. Stately; majestic; imposing.
[From PORT5.]portliness port’li·ness n.
Here are some other words you could have used…
Thesaurus: portly
adjectiveHaving too much flesh: corpulent, fat, fatty, fleshy, gross, obese, overblown, overweight, porcine, stout, weighty. See fat/thin.
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